CELTIC striker Gary Hooper has moved to silence transfer rumours by proclaiming he wants to remain at Celtic Park.

The Englishman, who signed from Scunthorpe in 2010, has bagged 16 goals in the SPL this season.

That form has alerted former boss - and current Southampton manager - Nigel Adkins to have lodged two bids for the hitman, both of which were rejected by the Hoops board.

Bhoys boss Neil Lennon even attempted to ward off potential suitors by joking he'd only think about selling Hooper if a bid came in that equalled the £35m Liverpool paid for Newcastle's Andy Carroll.

Now the 23-year-old frontman has opened up about the speculation, telling the club's official website, http://www.celticfc.net : "I'm very happy. I'm back playing now and scored at the weekend. It was good to be back in the team.

"I don't want to go anywhere. I'm a Celtic player and very happy here, winning games for Celtic and we're two points clear at the top of the league just now.

"I'm just focusing on football - training, playing and scoring goals - that's my job."